The YouGov poll of 1502 people found more than more than twice as many (59%) Australians now believe Australia’s interests are better served by a more independent foreign policy rather than a closer alliance with the United States (23%). Just one in eight (13%) Australians believe the US is a “very reliable” security ally.

The poll shows a further erosion of confidence in the US under President Trump. A year ago, a similar poll found that 31% of Australians believed Trump was a greater threat to world peace than Putin (27%) and Xi (27%).

Now, 52% feel that Trump is a bigger threat than Putin (17%) and Xi (16%).

Key findings:

• More One Nation voters (35%) believe Trump is a bigger threat to world peace than Putin (18%), and about the same number think Xi is the biggest threat (32%).

• One third (33%) of Australians now believe the AUKUS security agreement is not in Australia’s best interests.

• 68% of Australians, including 53% of One Nation voters, oppose Australia’s involvement in the US and Israel’s war on Iran.

“This poll represents a seismic shift in the way Australians think about the United States,” said Dr Emma Shortis, Director of The Australia Institute’s International & Security Affairs Program.

“After following the US into nearly every war since World War II, Australians have had enough. They see tangible risks in being so close to President Trump’s bleak and violent version of America.

“Australians are listening when the President of the United States calls America’s allies ‘cowards’ and says that he doesn’t ‘need’ us – all the while attempting to drag us into a catastrophic, illegal war in Iran.

“And we are voting with our feet. The number of Australians visiting America has more than halved.

“Australians do not wish to abandon our American friends. We are deeply invested in the survival of American democracy. But that is precisely why we need to break up with Trump.”

Read more analysis from Dr Emma Shortis here.

^{On behalf of The Australia Institute, YouGov surveyed a nationally representative online sample of 1,502 Australians between March 12 and March 19, 2026.}